mrblanche
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Re: Waiting at the Rainbow Bridge
Thank you (and any others it applies to) for adopting from a rescue or shelter. I'm a volunteer at our local shelter, and I see great dogs and cats go to that ugly back room all the time. We're not a no-kill shelter, and no shelter really is. Most of those who claim to be no-kill actually control their population at the front door; we are required by the three cities that fund us to control ours at the back door. A major feral cat trapping program in one of our supporting cities almost wiped out our incoming isolation room inmates and required the euthanasia of a number of long-time cats that only had one of three things against them: They were older (not kittens), they were the wrong color (black or tabby), or they had caught the usual cat cold.445Views0likes0CommentsRe: Watching these videos could save your life!
Find somebody you trust to check them on a regular basis. If you're traveling, you can have them checked at Speedco sites for a fee. Most truck stop shops will do it for a fee, also. But if you're at a truck stop, ask a trucker. I'd do it for you. If you're at home, train one of the local teenagers and have him check it for you.530Views0likes0CommentsRe: Waiting at the Rainbow Bridge
In honor of all these furry friends, and the ones (too many) I have seen go on ahead of me. Particularly Snoopy, Wicket, and Truman, three very different cats who have filled almost 36 years of marriage. I AWAKE By Mike Blanche I awake...but I do not remember falling asleep. Just a moment ago, little Jimmy threw the ball And I chased it with all my puppy concentration, Timing each bounce in the grass to catch it At just the right moment. Did I feel the front yard's grass turn to stone? Did I hear a screaming sound? Perhaps I did. Perhaps I dreamed. The fresh tang of dewy grass teases my nose. The golden sun warms me. I open my eyes, Many new friends gather around me. They show me what to eat, where to drink. We play and sleep, near the bridge of all colors. This is wonderful...but it is not perfect. I awake. Only a moment ago I fell asleep, Deep asleep, lying in Jim's arms. I remember the pain in his eyes, And the pain in my body, slowly ebbing. So many years I played at his feet, Slept by his side, sat watching at his windows. Slowly I moved less, jumped less, ate less, saw less. He loved me, carefully caressing me, Making soft soothing sounds. But the pain is gone; the blades of grass Tickle my nose. I open my eyes, And find new friends gathered around me. My legs are like springs. Butterflies play tag. I am fed, and we play near the many-colored bridge. It is wonderful...but it is not perfect. I awake. When I fell asleep moments ago, I thought all was finished. But now I see Sunshine streaming through the leaves above. All the pains and aches of my long life Are dimmest memories. I lift my hand Before my eyes. I see it clearly, soft and smooth, As it has not been in years. I rise, My legs strong again, my toes against The cool grass. My ears hear birdsong; The freshness of dawn floods my senses. I move easily, drawn to a bridge nearby, Arching gracefully into the distance. This is wonderful...but it is not perfect. I approach the bridge, and turn to gaze Into the fields nearby. I see happy creatures, Sitting, playing, and sleeping. But my eyes are drawn to two joyous beings, Running at their fullest speed. They seem familiar. Can they be The animals I knew before? THEY ARE! I kneel down, They rush into my arms, wetting my face With joyous kisses and tears. We stand. We move together Across the Rainbow Bridge. This is wonderful...this is perfect. Mike Blanche457Views0likes0CommentsRe: Pet Pictures - READ MY STARTING POST B/4 POSTING
Ella, our Katrina survivor. Got her at the shelter where I volunteer when she went on the PTS list due to being "unadoptable" because of her nose, which refuses to heal. She spent 3 years in a cage after Katrina. You'll notice her "bun warmer." Punkin, our truck cat. He traveled more than 400,000 miles with us. Also a shelter rescue. Sterling, our "goth kitty." Note the black lipstick and eye shadow! Another refugee from "kitty death row."393Views0likes0CommentsRe: First Time Buyer...Updated 03/06/2006
The dealer may be "the best in his field," but that doesn't mean his salespeople are the best in THEIR field. The old saying in sales is that you have 40% starting, 40% on their way out the door, and 20% doing 80% of the sales. You have to find someone who wants to work for you and earn his commission. I wouldn't be afraid to call the dealer (even the owner) and tell him your story. There are too few buyers right now for anyone to blow any of them off. (And when I was assistant manager of a real estate office, I fired people for mistreating customers all the time. Really want to see me angry? Don't return calls!)483Views0likes0CommentsRe: Watching these videos could save your life!
jmcc wrote: Yes, those videos were very good! Who would have thought of stepping on the gas!? Where would you purchase an infarared thermometer? I know this is an old thread, but there's an easy answer here. You can get them from Radio Shack, but they are also available for less than $20 at Harbor Freight. If you want to avoid tire problems, always replace tires in pairs on the drive axles. Look at your tires at every stop. Pay special attention to right-side tires; the crown of the road moves debris out to that edge. If you see a nail or some foreign object in a tire, go immediately to a repair shop; do NOT pull it out! Some truckers carry a selection of screws (such as short drywall screws, which have a pretty decent taper) to put in a hole that they may have pulled a nail out of to hold pressure long enough to get to a repair station. Also, learn to read the DOT number on tires so that you can tell how old they are. Just as an entirely different thought -- or maybe not -- today's tubeless tires can run a long time slightly low and not come apart. You'd be surprise how long they'll last completely flat. The bad news is that they CAN get hot enough to catch fire, and that's not a pretty sight.531Views0likes0Comments
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